English Fans Warming to the American Game : Their Numbers Are Few and Their Knowledge Slight, but They’re Fanatical

Lars Ishojer, 15, nearly came apart at the seams Tuesday after sneaking onto the practice field at the Crystal Palace Sports Center and getting the autograph of Ram quarterback Jim Everett.

You would have thought he’d just come face to face with the Queen Mum. Lars was seeing stars, and the credit once again goes to the wondrous powers of television, or “the telly,” as Lars says.

Lars, from nearby Kenley, was living an average English life of 4 o’clock teas and soccer before switching one day last November to Channel 4, which was showing taped highlights of Jim Everett’s professional debut against the New England Patriots.

You didn’t have to refresh his memory of Everett nearly rallying the Rams to a dramatic win in that game, won by the Patriots, 30-28.

“He passed for 193 yards,” Ishojer said matter of factly.

That Everett moment was the telly flip that changed a young boy’s life and fancy, a transoceanic dial into the world of Pete Rozelle. A real Rammy whammy.

Now Lars can’t get enough of the Rams. With hanging jaw, he watched Tuesday as his idol and his team prepared for their Sunday exhibition game against the Denver Broncos at Wembley Stadium, where a crowd of 80,000 Lars-types is expected.

Tuesday, Lars wore Ram attire--an authentic game jersey and a cap--and carried a program.

He was flanked by his friend Steve Kenward, 15, who had the nerve to wear the silver and black of the Los Angeles Raiders.

Appalling, really, except to Kenward, who asked: “Is Marc Wilson popular in the States or need I ask? We don’t care for him much here.”

And so has begun a new way of life for some English boys and men who have learned to appreciate the National Football League on Channel 4, an independent station that has televised NFL highlights in England since 1982.

There is a propaganda factor, to be sure, since British fans get to enjoy only the juiciest film clips and have never had to endure the fingernails-across-a-chalkboard-thrill of an instant replay appeal.

Although talk of football someday replacing soccer as the national pastime here is pure rubbish, the American game is catching on. In fact, it has caused the formation of new class structures among the youth.

“All the rugby players at school think we’re wimps,” said Lars, explaining that rugby players consider a sport unmanly if it warrants a helmet. “They say they can smash us into the ground.”

Rugby players can digest this:

--Last year, 6.1 million English viewers watched Super Bowl XXI between the Broncos and New York Giants.

--There are more than 100 American football clubs in England, led by the rough, tough Budweiser League, which sports the country’s best teams, although best here should be considered in relative terms.

Some observers, though, wonder how deep the love for football lies.

“It’s the in fad,” Michael Wale, of BBC television, said. “With the clothing (uniforms) and everything, there’s sort of a cosmetic feel about it. It’s been kind of like selling a look. And it does look spectacular with all those cheerleaders. We like that sort of thing.”

But Wale remembered that in last year’s American Bowl I between the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears, the headlines focused less on strategy and more on legendary culinary tales and the overall girth of Bear defensive end William (Refrigerator) Perry.

And when it comes right down to it, American football can get quite sticky when it comes to rules.

Lars Ishojer confessed as much. “I really don’t understand pass interference,” he said.

But hard-core fans and players insist the sport is here to stay.

Paul Burgess, 22, plays wide receiver for the Crawley Raiders, a Budweiser League team. He, too, was at Tuesday’s practice and watched in awe as Ron Brown and Henry Ellard ran patterns.

“I’m hooked just a bit,” said Burgess, who took up the sport two years ago. “I used to play soccer and rugby, but I don’t even watch them on the telly anymore.”

Burgess, whose favorite NFL players include wide receiver-sprinters Ron Brown, Willie Gault and Vance Johnson, does his best to keep up with NFL statistics and scores.

He was a bit worried last year when he lost track of Brown. “Whatever happened to Mr. Brown?” he queried.

Brown, of course, separated his shoulder against Dallas Dec. 7 and missed the rest of the season.

Burgess and some of his friends will be traveling to the United States on a three-week tour in September and will try to see as many NFL games as possible.

Burgess long ago got a ticket for Sunday’s game at Wembley Stadium. He says the game has at least whetted the country’s appetite.

“A lot of people will be watching Sunday, even though they won’t know what’s happening,” he said.

Of course, what American football really needs to sell England is more die-hard fans such as Lars Ishojer, who swears he will never forgive the Washington Redskins for bouncing his Rams out of the playoffs last season.

His Rams. He can’t wait for the season opener.

“I like the corners, (LeRoy) Irvin and (Jerry) Gray,” he said. “And the offensive line, though they don’t get enough credit. I like this game because there’s not as much violence in the stands (compared to soccer crowds). I think it’s because the players get out all their aggressions in the pitch (field).”

Meet the press: Eric Dickerson had his first encounter with the British press.

Question: “So, some of the rival players are getting more money than you, then?”

Answer: “Yes, I guess you could say that.”

Q: “I hear your girlfriend has given you some problems. I heard you chased her down the street with a gun and fired some shots.”

A: “That’s none of your business. You’re kind of a nosy little chap, aren’t you?”

End of interview.

Ram Notes

Kicker Mike Lansford returned home Tuesday to take care of some personal business, Coach John Robinson said. It’s not clear yet whether Lansford will return for the game. . . . Eric Dickerson, who wanted to come to London about as much as he wanted another lawsuit, actually warmed up to most reporters and even mugged with English “bobbies.” Dickerson said he doesn’t feel safe in London. “I’m worried about terrorism, no doubt,” he said. “Even this morning (on the news), they were talking about more bombings.” So what about NFL security? “NFL security?” Dickerson responded. “You think they can stop a terrorist attack?”

The English tabloids are already poking fun at Ram owner Georgia Frontiere, who was referred to as “Gridiron’s Granny” in one headline. . . . A Sun article was laced with tidbits such as, “she once sacked her own stepson from the club’s office staff,” and “her current husband could not be with her on the trip to London--he is in prison for ticket touting.” . . . Angel owner Gene Autry is one of the 400-plus guests Frontiere flew over for the game . . . Monday, Dickerson dined at London’s famed Hard Rock Cafe. He and cornerback LeRoy Irvin both missed Tuesday’s practice because of hamstring injuries. . . . Denver quarterback John Elway, asked by a British reporter to describe the life style of a football player, responded: “We get beat up a lot on Sundays.”